Superconductivity, or a true zero-resistance state, is known to originate from the creation of Cooper pairs of electrons that can condense into a phase-coherent macroscopic quantum state. The physics behind the creation of this state as well as the new physics this state can enable are beautiful, exotic, and deeply rooted in the magic of quantum mechanics. I will discuss recent experiments utilizing Einstein’s photoelectric effect that allow us to directly probe the nature of the Cooper pairs and the electronic interactions that give rise to these pairs in some novel superconductors. I will also discuss our efforts to control these interactions as well as to utilize them for new types of quantum devices, for example aimed at error-free quantum computation.